David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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I have a question which is related to the HSE's report. It runs to hundreds of pages and contains a huge amount of interesting information which, in itself, would almost warrant a follow-up meeting with the HSE and the Department. For example, some of it deals with the expenditure of €176 million on private ambulances, which is an extraordinary sum. There are issues surrounding CervicalCheck and how the audit was carried out. That plays into what Dr. Scally said yesterday to the effect that, because the audit process had concentrated only on women who had cancer, it was not really a proper audit. It was never recorded in the risk register. There are issues at Mount Carmel with the private operator which is managing it. It was meant to be managed on a temporary basis, but it will now be long-term. The company is owned by Mr. Denis O'Brien, something which will raise concerns for some as he seems to have his finger in lots of pies. There are lots of other issues such as those surrounding the figure for private patient debt - €270 million - in acute hospitals. There is extraordinary stuff in the report.